Pretoria - Cabinet has agreed that provincial governments and municipalities be given more capacity to act when their areas are struck by disaster - this to improve the rate of response in times of crisis.
Acting Cabinet spokesperson, Phumla Williams, said Cabinet received a report from the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), which noted an increase in the number of disaster incidents across the country in the past financial year.
She said the increased number of disaster incidents covered in the NDMC report included floods and fires.
"Cabinet endorsed the building of capacity in provinces and in municipalities so as to further enhance the capacity of the provinces and municipalities to respond quicker and appropriately whenever such disasters occur," said Williams.
In October, several people died when heavy rains and storms hit the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga.
The worst hit metros in the Eastern Cape were Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City. - SAnews.gov.za